Water in transmission

[PaceWithGrace]

Sorry, a little off topic, but not too much as it's tow-vehicle related...

My Durango's transmission started acting a bit funny last week so I took it into the transmission shop who fully rebuilt it for heavy duty service 4000 kms / 18 months ago. They found that water has gotten into it and fried most of the clutches, and it needs another full rebuild.

How could this happen? Transmissions are sealed units with a small vent at the top, right? So you'd have to get the truck half submerged to get water in it, right? (Which didn't happen.) Or would a pan seal let water in without leaking much oil out? And if so, you'd still have to get the truck pretty wet, right? Yes, I launch my boat and get the rear wheels in to the axle, but that's about it.

(Transmission cooler is separate from radiator in this case, so it shouldn't be cross-contamination.)

A Google search returned little on "water in transmission durango ".

I want your anecdotes and collective knowledge please! The shop says it's not their fault but I didn't do anything unusual and I don't know what to tell them.

Thanks,
Severin B.

[Z1Fan]

Ask them how it got in there, it just didn't happen overnight

[PaceWithGrace]

They said I must have backed in too far with the boat. But wouldn't "too far" be half submerged or something? I've never done that.

And if not, they say there's no other way the water could legitimately get in, so it can't be their fault.

[Z1Fan]

Even then the engine was running, therefore pressure in the tranny, how's that possible unless you parked it in the water and turned it off.... There's a few good mechanics on this site, I am sure they will chime in, by the morning

[PaceWithGrace]

Correct. I always leave it running. I'm in and out in a minute anyway.

[PaceWithGrace]

A Google search returned nothing relevant on "boat launch water in transmission ", either.

Is this just unheard of? Is it impossible for me to get water in my transmission by launching my boat (as long as I don't launch my truck, too, per recent videos? ;-)

[boatwakes]

You may have a separate transmission cooler as well as the stock cooler in the radiator. To confirm its coolant, take an oil sample or open the coolant reservoir and check for trans fluid, it'll float on top or be an emulsified jelly substance.

[boatwakes]

http://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen-...ion-fluid.html

[PaceWithGrace]

Thanks boatwakes. Stock cooler is bypassed and only using larger separate cooler in front of rad.

I have yet to hear of anyone else getting water in their trans from launching at a boat ramp. Am I really unlucky or does this just not happen and the trans shop is trying to get me to pay for their mistake? And what is that mistake, anyway?

[Ewok]

How is the stock bypassed? Is it plugged or lines run to the new bigger unit? Sounds like the only way it can happen is through a fluid/fluid heat exchanger, are you sure the new heat exchanger is an air/transmission fluid heat exchanger?

Depending on the angle of the boat ramp, how deep you go and maybe some waves it might be possible to get a small wave pass over the vent on the transmission, if there is a vent. On my 4Runner I had to go pretty deep once when the boat launch was flooded and I had the rear axles submerged. I changed out the rear diff fluid as soon as I got home (1/2 mile) but didn't see any water in the fluid, but it gave me piece of mind.

[PaceWithGrace]

The in-rad trans cooler is totally bypassed. The lines go directly to the bigger, separate core in front of the main rad.

The trans shop says it's highly unlikely I got water in the trans from launching my boat, especially since the transfer case is less sealed than the transmission and is behind it (hence lower) and had no water in it. They said there's only 3 places water can get in: the vent (apparently high enough to rule out), the cooler lines (which are not connected to the main rad so can be ruled out), and the dipstick. Obviously I haven't been pouring water in my dipstick hole, and I'm pretty sure the top cap was sealed well enough from rain/washing, but perhaps the lower seal was compromised.

Anyway, they're not taking responsibility for the failure, whatever it was, so I'm going to be out another few thou for the rebuild.

Having not found the cause, I'm now scared this will happen again...

[Chads972150]

the only way i could think of is throught the rear main. it wouldnt be from the cooler or a line its under pressure it would keep the water out and would be leaking fluid i might see it getting in through the pan gasket but you would have a leak there too if you can find no leaks on the transmission then it got in through the dip stick period now this could be from bad tranny fluid thats not unheard of but to get it in the vent of the tranny you would have water INSIDE THE CAR so that is rulled out but going down a boat ramp to get it in any possible entry point in a durango you would have flooded the back of the car i would say it got in when someone was putting the fluid in at the shop or at some point if it was ever changed unless you drive it through deep water or mud then it could have got in but yet again you would still have a leak of some sort i would be fighting that shop with everything i had and also taking it to another shop if they will not fix it to have it repaired look on dodge forums someone in your area could send you to a good shop.

[PaceWithGrace]

Thanks for your post.

I think I'm stuck on this one. Since the shop recently rebuilt this trans (4000 kms ago), they were quite concerned when they found water in it. However, they stopped being concerned with the rationale that the water ingress wasn't their fault (and who can disagree with this?). But by this point, the trans was out of the truck and partly disassembled, so all ways forward were going to cost me.

They have reduced their parts & labour cost on this rebuild but I'm still going to be out a few thou.

I don't know what the moral of this story is.

[Z1Fan]

I wonder about one thing, the dip stick tube itself, if that the G was not put on properly from the tranny guys, water could and I've seen it happen, get in where it meets the tranny casing,, there is sometimes a gasket or o ring there, betcha they didn't do it properly and water made its way in there, I would almost bet on it, that sucks cause it's hard to prove

[PaceWithGrace]

I think you're right. They said water might have gotten in the top of the dipstick due to rain or pressure washing, but I don't think so. On the other hand, the rubber bushing where the dipstick goes into the tranny, down low near the pan, looked pretty worn. So it was probably during a recent boat launch when I had the truck in the water almost to the frame rails that the dipstick let water in. That sucks, but who's responsibility is it? They're the tranny experts and they fully rebuilt it a mere 4000 kms ago, but it failed due to water ingress, not a tranny fault. As you said, hard to prove anything. And really hard to say anything when they have the tranny out of the truck and half apart.

What have I learned? I dunno, but I will def check the tranny fluid every time out. Sigh.